First the rain, then the Snow?

Through the start of the weekend, it will be on the slick and soggy side.

This Thursday morning, we're tracking a light and patchy winter mix ahead of a low pressure system that is currently in Oklahoma. With temperatures to stay above freezing today, this mix won't last long. However we will see light and patchy drizzle, and rain from time to time. Though, with not a lot of moisture to work with, not many will see the rainfall.

The developing shortwave of energy then tracks northeast through the Stateline, bringing slightly more moisture with it. This will allow for more coverage with rain and drizzle overnight tonight and into Friday. Friday will be one of the more mild days we see in the next 7 -days, with temperatures hoovering close to 40°.

Our focus then shifts to the weekend with the possibilty for accumulating snowfall late Saturday afternoon into Sunday. A storm system that is still off the coast of southern California looks to quickly track into Oklahoma where it develops into a low pressure system. Models are starting to come to a better agreement on the track of the system in the past few runs, but once the system moves onshore, there will be a lot more data and information available for models to pick up and use.  Saturday afternoon the low pressure is forecasted to take an east northeast path. This would take it through portions on the Mississippi River Valley, through southern Illinois and into Indiana and Ohio. If this track plays out, it would put northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin in a favored zone for accumulating snowfall. Confidence on the track of  this system is increasing, however there are still many more factors that need to come into play before we are able to say if it will be all snow, and how much we will see.

The snow looks to end early Sunday morning but then temperatures take a big hit. Highs will stay in the teens through next week with overnight lows dropping into the single digits. Winds behind the low will also pick up and turn gusty, which could bring blowing snow and wind chills below zero. We will continue to track this system and keep you updated as we learn more!